Kayden’s heart raced with fear and excitement as he peeked around the train. This was a challenge even for him. Twelve against two. And at least four of them were seasoned soldiers; he could see it in their stance. How good it would be if he could release his fire, burning all of them where they were. These men endangered him, his brother, Thunder, and even Arelyn. Once this was over, he’d wonder why Arelyn made it to that list, but for now, he focused on the enemy.

  When Kieran silently landed on top of the train and shifted back, Kayden released a series of swirling fireballs, distracting the robbers. The water basin next to him tipped to the side as Kieran reached for the water inside and Kayden had to suppress calling out to be more careful. He had to trust his brother knew what he was doing.

  Fire burst from the dining wagon and he recognized Todd’s painful scream. A scream meant alive, so he pushed it aside and sprinted towards the passengers to erect the wall of fire he’d promised.

  Water broke free and gathered around Kieran. With the force he was showing, guns and magic were pointed towards him and once again, Kayden had to trust his brother to protect himself.

  Kieran knew what he was doing.

  One robber, an earth mage, lifted boulders and threw them towards Kieran, but they mostly hit ice as Kieran erected a wall from the swirling water. The flames fired at him sizzled against the water when Kayden reached his first target.

  He grabbed the man’s throat and twisted it. A gun was fired and burning pain spread into his side as the bullet grazed his ribs. He spun around, pulling his first victim’s knife from his belt and launched forward. The next man. The next fireball. The next stab.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Screams of panic and death echoed around him, but only his own breathing reached him loud and clear. He moved with the beat of his heart, frantic, but steady.

  When the last robber dropped dead, Kayden stopped, pressing a hand onto his injured side.

  “Let me see.” Kieran was next to him, trying to pull his hand away, but Kayden stepped back.

  “Take care of yourself. We need to check on… the others.”

  From the look on his brother’s face, he didn’t have to name her for Kieran to know who he wanted to see. That annoying woman would be the end of him.

  As he took the steps towards the nearest door, he took all his injuries into account. His right shoulder throbbed from the fall, his right side hurt but the bleeding was slowing already, there was a cut on his left thigh, but it wasn’t deep or long. He’d live.

  “You need healing, Kayden.”

  He looked at the trickling blood on the side of Kieran’s face. “You do too.”

  As he climbed the train, he found himself in front of his warlock, Martyn, and one guard, Liam.

  “Where are the others?”

  “Todd went towards the dining wagon,” Martyn said. “And Henry is dead.”

  Kayden grimaced. His healer was dead. “Liam, go and see if any of the passengers can heal. Martyn, you go and help Kieran. And where is that annoying woman?”

  “She went after Todd, My King,” Liam said.

  He took a deep inhale, doing his best not to kill his men. “And you let a woman who is under my protection go play the hero?”

  His men bowed without a word, worry crossing their features. He’d deal with them later.

  Kayden took a sharp inhale as adrenaline was leaving his body and pain took over. “I’ll be in my cabin.”

  Despite his words, he headed towards the horses to check on Thunder.